TORONTO — Auston Matthews was a no-brainer promotion for the Maple Leafs last season, but Lou Lamoriello will have a tougher call deciding what to do with this year’s No. 1 pick.

Timothy Liljegren, who signed a three-year-entry level contract Wednesday, plays defence, a tougher position to master at the NHL level, and there wasn’t enough evidence from the Leafs' now-completed development camp to see if he can provide immediate help at the team’s neediest position.

“We saw exactly what we thought we’d see,” Lamoriello said Wednesday after two scrimmage games between draft picks and camp invites. “He’s an outstanding skater, with great poise. I was impressed that he didn’t take chances to try and impress us, as he’s a rushing defenceman.”

Liljegren will receive $925,000 US per year under terms of his first NHL deal, which was announced after the Leafs had wrapped up its week-long camp.

Only 15 seconds remained in Friday’s game when the right-shooting Swede got off a nice shot from the point through traffic for his first goal of the two-game series. But Liljegren and the draftees (Team Clark) fell 6-5 after a 6-3 setback to the free agents (Team Sittler) on Tuesday.

“Nice to get a goal, but we still lost,” said Liljegren, who said he and many others had game rust at this stage of summer.

Dream come true to have signed my first NHL Contract with the @MapleLeafs , couldn't be more excited! 🤙🏼

His takeaway from four days of practice and the two games were “making fast plays, to play simple and things like that. I think I can play better in both ends of the ice. Getting stronger, working on the defensive zone. The first games of the season are hard. The tempo is higher, there are fast players, and small (North American) rinks.”

Now Lamoriello and his advisors must plot a course for Liljegren in 2017-18.

The 18-year-old still has a year left on his contract with Rogle in the Swedish Hockey League, but the Leafs might like to arrange that season on this side of the ocean. Though the Niagara IceDogs chose him in the CHL import draft, Lamoriello backed Liljegren’s agent in cutting off the junior route, saying it’s the American Hockey League Marlies where the Leafs prefer him if he doesn’t make the big club or plays at home.

The next step will be to watch him at next month’s junior summer showcase in Plymouth, Mich., where the Swedes and other hockey powers are sending their national teams as a world junior tune-up.

In September, Liljegren will join the four-team Leaf rookie tournament at Ricoh Coliseum, then on to an official audition with the Leafs in NHL exhibition play.

The speculation remains Toronto is working on a trade to further boost its defence after adding free agent Ron Hainsey. Older Swedes Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman, both free agent signings in May, will get a look at camp as well, along with Marlies blueliners Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielsen.

Lamoriello insisted Wednesday that he’s pleased with the make-up of his defence corps at this point in time, but that’s subject to change in the three months leading to the season opener.

Leafs developmental camp ends with feisty scrimmage

Team Clark JJ Piccinich (37) goes to slash the puck away from Team Sittler Jake Tortora (84) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team clark Vladimir Bobylev takes exception to a hit on a teammte on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Taro Hirose (65) fights for the puck with Team Clark JJ Piccinich (37) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Jakob Stridsberg fights along the boards with Team Clark Fedor Gordeev (58) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Clark Kirill Kozhevnikov (76) pushes off on Team Sittler Kristian Pospisil (75) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Clark Timothy Liljegren fight for the puck along the boards with Team Sittler Logan DeNoble (79) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Taro Hirose (65) Team Clark Dakota Joshua (38) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Ethan McIndoe (90) is chased by Team Clark Ryan McGregor (61) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Clark Kyle Maksimovich (68) hammers a Team Clark player into the boards on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Sami Taverner (74) is pushed away from the puck by Team Clark Eemeli Rasanen (59) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Logan DeNoble (79) is pushed into the boards by Team Clark Fedor Gordeev (58) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Kristian Pospisil (75) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Jeff King on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Kristian Pospisil (75) on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Clark Fedor Gordeev (58) congratulates teammate Nolan Vesey (36) on scoring a goal on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Clark Nikolai Chebykin (60) goes in on a penalty shot against Team Sittler goalie Matt Robson and is stopped on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler Sami Taverner (74) is congratulated by Taro Hirose (65) after scoring on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Clark Valdimir Bobylev spooks with the media on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Team Sittler goalie Matt Robson speaks with the media on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby speaks to Team Sittler Jeff King on the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Jack Boland/Toronto Sun

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello speaks to the media after the final day of Leafs Development Camp at the MCC in Toronto on Wednesday July 12, 2017. Jack Boland/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Top pick Liljegren signs entry-level contract with Maple Leafs

TORONTO — Auston Matthews was a no-brainer promotion for the Maple Leafs last season, but Lou Lamoriello will have a tougher call deciding what to do with this year’s No. 1 pick.

Timothy Liljegren, who signed a three-year-entry level contract Wednesday, plays defence, a tougher position to master at the NHL level, and there wasn’t enough evidence from the Leafs' now-completed development camp to see if he can provide immediate help at the team’s neediest position.

“We saw exactly what we thought we’d see,” Lamoriello said Wednesday after two scrimmage games between draft picks and camp invites. “He’s an outstanding skater, with great poise. I was impressed that he didn’t take chances to try and impress us, as he’s a rushing defenceman.”

Liljegren will receive $925,000 US per year under terms of his first NHL deal, which was announced after the Leafs had wrapped up its week-long camp.